Lougee to let educator’s licenses lapse

An embattled elementary school principal has agreed to let his New Mexico educator’s licenses lapse and never apply to teach in the state again, under a mutual agreement with the New Mexico Public Education Department.

David Lougee was initially hired in 2013 by former Superintendent Lon Streib from Streib’s previous school district, Crook County School District, in Wyoming, to be the principal at G.W. Stout Elementary. His wife, Beth, was hired at the same time to be the principal of Silver High School. She was issued a new contract in July 2016, to be the principal of La Plata Middle School, for a salary of $90,635. David Lougee was issued a new contract for the 2016-17 year, also in July 2016, to remain the principal at Stout, for a salary of $82,322.

David Lougee was placed on a period of administrative leave back in February 2014, but it’s not clear for how long. His educator’s licenses were threatened in the summer of 2016 when the PED filed a notice of contemplated action alleging that Lougee “engaged in a pattern and practice of inappropriate conduct, including threats, retaliation, disregard for applicable rules and regulations,” with staff, parents and children alike.

Some of the allegations against Lougee include using terms like “jap-slap”; telling employees that he didn’t think he’d have to fire as many people as at his last job; an inability to pronounce teachers’ Spanish last names, instead referring to them instead as “Mr. T” or “Mr. V”; calling special education students “vegetables”; allegedly slamming a teacher’s head onto a desk; saying, “I walk outside and see all these people who look like criminals, then I realize they’re our parents!”; rewarding certain students for doing well on standardized tests, while excluding others and rubbing those rewards in their classmates’ faces; and attempting to dis-enroll special ed students, students who performed poorly on those tests, and students who had too many absences, among other allegations. The notice of contemplated action includes more than 80 allegations. Lougee said none of the allegations are true.

Nearly 20 individuals — parents, teachers and staff — sent letters of support, speaking positively of his character when the notice of contemplated action was filed last summer.

Some of those statements include how well he made the school function as a cohesive unit; how he built strong connections among parents, staff, administrators and students; his support of using grants to improve classrooms; his encouragement to teachers to try out-of-the-box teaching techniques; some had welcomed his constructive criticism; certain teachers of Latina or Latino heritage felt they had been treated with respect; and some said he respected and encouraged everyone to be their best.

Under the agreement, the PED agrees to not go after his license or pursue the allegations, and he agrees to not sue the state, or ever seek employment in education in New Mexico again.

According to the agreement, dated Jan. 20, 2017, Lougee and the PED both agree to “mutually release each other from any and all actions, causes of actions, rights, suits, judgments, demands, and claims of liability for loss or damages of any kind, whether in law or in equity, in federal court or in state court, and whether by common law or statute” including attorney’s fees.

It also states that Lougee agrees to resign at the end of his current contract, which is on June 30, 2017, and let his New Mexico licenses lapse and not seek work in education in New Mexico in the future.

“Licensee also agrees to never again seek employment with any public school district or public education institute in the state of New Mexico or to apply for any job or work in education in New Mexico again,” the agreement states. “In the event that licensee breaches this agreement by either applying for or working in education in New Mexico after June 30, 2017 or by applying for renewal of his New Mexico license or reapplying for initial licensure with the Department, Licensee agrees that his licensure with the Department shall be revoked and said revocation will be reported to the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education Certification.”

As part of the agreement, the PED agrees that if contacted by another state regarding Lougee’s being the subject of a license investigation, the PED “agreed to acknowledge that Lougee was the subject of an investigation and/or complaint, and advise only that the matter was dismissed between the parties.”

Lougee will remain the principal of G.W. Stout until June 30. His wife, Beth Lougee, La Plata Middle School principal, will also leave the district at the end of her contract at the end of the school year.

“The state has allowed us to move to a place where we can do our job,” David Lougee said.